630.7 
A lib 

n.*b.,  _ 

no.  13 
cop.  5 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/microscopicstudy1318mell 


oircuiatixx  i 


Afiicnltimn  Library 


BULLETIN  NO.  13.  - - - - NEW  SERIES. 


f 


Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College, 


AUBURN,  ALA.  - - - - MARCH,  1890. 


Microscopic  Study  of  Certain  Varieties  of  Cotton. 


The  Bulletins  of  this  Station  will  be  sent  Free  to  any  citizen  of 
the  State,  on  application  to  the  Director. 


THE  BROWN  PRINTING  CO,,  STATE  PRINTERS,  BINDERS  & STATIONERS. 

I 


* 


33 


ZBO^AERID  O W VISITORS 


COMMITTEE  OF  TRUSTEES  ON  EXPERIMENT  STATION: 

Hon.  J.  G.  Gilchrist,  . . .Hon.  R.  F.  Ligon, Hon.  J.  B.  Mitchell. 


:bo_a.:r,:d  or1  dieectioh. 


W.  L.  Broun  . . . 
J.  S.  Newman.  . . . 
N.  T.  Lupton.  . . . 

P.  H.  Mell.  

Geo.  F.  Atkinson 


President 

.Director  and  Agriculturist 
Vice-Director  and  Chemist 
Botauist  and  Meteorologist 
Biologist 


ASSISTANTS : 

Isaac  Ross  . .1st  Assistant  Agriculturist,  in  charge  of  Live  Stock  & Dairy 

Jas.  Clayton Second  Assistant  Agriculturist 

J.  T.  Anderson,  Ph.  D First  Assistant  Chemist 

L.  W.  Wilkinson,  M.  Sc.  Second  Assistant  Chemist 

P.  L.  Hutchison,  B.  Sc., Third  Assistant  Chemist 

A.  M.  Lloyd,  B.  Sc Assistant  Botanist 


SYNOPSIS. 

1.  Species  and  varieties. 

2.  What  is  cotton  fibre. 

3.  Questions  considered  in  the  investigation. 

4 List  of  varieties  examined. 

5.  .Results  of  experiments. 

6.  Conclusions  drawn  from  results  obtained. 

7.  How  can  the  grade  of  cotton  be  improved  ? 
a The  improvement  of  the  seed. 

b The  character  of  the  soil, 
c The  best  kind  of  fertilizer, 
d The  best  method  of  cultivation, 
e The  condition  of  the  weather  most  favorable. 

8.  Table  showing  detail  results. 


A MICROSCOPIC  STUDY  OF  THE  COTTON  PLANT. 

P.  H.  MELL,  BOTANIST 

I.  Species  and  Varieties. 

There  are  several  species  of  the  cotton  known  to  botanists 
but  only  three  are  of  special  commercial  importance.  These 
three  are  called  : 

Gossypium  Bahma , or  Egyptian  cotton. 

Gossypium  barbadense , or  G.  nigrum,  or  Sea  Island  cotton, 
or  long  staple  or  black  seed  cotton. 

Gossypium  herbaceum , or  G.  album,  or  short  staple,  or  up- 
land or  green  seed  cotton. 

Monsieur  Rohn  also  divides  the  species  into — 

1.  Those  with  seeds  rough  and  black. 

2.  Those  with  seeds  brownish  black  and  veined. 

3.  Those  with  seeds  sprinkled  with  short  hairs. 

4.  Those  with  seeds  completely  covered  with  close  down. 

The  three  species,  above  mentioned,  have  been  multiplied 

into  twenty  or  thirty  so-called  varieties,  by  certain  kinds  of 
cultivation  and  careful  selecting  in  the  hands  of  progressive 
planters.  Some  of  these  varieties  are  Very  good  and  worthy 
consideration,  while  others  have  no  right  to  a new  name. 

G.  Bahma  originated  in  Egypt  some  years  since,  and  is 
supposed  to  be  a hybrid,  made  with  a species  of  the  Hibis- 
cus and  the  native  Egyptian  cotton  plant.  The  fibre  of  this 
plant  is  inferior  in  several  respects  to  that  produced  by  G. 
herbaceum,  that  furnishes  more  than  nine-tenths  of  the  sta- 
ple of  commerce.  The  Sea  Island,  or  as  it  was  formerly 
called  in  Georgia,  “Persian  cotton,”  requires  a salt  atmos- 

35 


4 


phere,  and  is,  therefore,  confined  to  limited  areas.  Its 
largest  production  is  made  along  the  coasts  of  South  Caro- 
lina, Georgia  and  Florida.  The  staple  is  also  limited  in  its 
application,  since  it  is  mainly  used  in  the  manufacture  of  lace- 
II.  What  is  Cotton  Fibre  ? 

When  cotton  is  first  taken  from  the  boll  it  consists  of  seed 
with  the  germ  surrounded  by  its  food,  a coating  or  covering 
called  by  oil  manufacturers  the  “hull,”  and  by  botanists, 
outer  and  inner  seed-coats,  and  an  outside  envelop  of  elon- 
gated threads  or  tubes  that  are  attached  to  the  outer  seed- 
coat.  These  threads  are,  in  fact,  simply  elongated  cells  of 
this  coat.  These  cells  cover  thickly  the  whole  surface  of 
the  seed,  and  in  ginning  it  is  necessary  to  tear  them  off  by 
rupture  at  the  portion  near  the  seed  coat.  Seeds  are  clean- 
ly ginned  in  proportion  to  the  distance  from  the  surface 
reached  by  the  cutting  edges  of  the  teeth  of  the  ginning 
saws.  The  thread  or  fibre  in  its  young  state  is  cylindrical, 
but  upon  maturing  and  becoming  dry  it  collapses  and  as- 
sumes a more  or  less  flat,  ribbon-like,  twisted  form.  The 
degree  of  twist  given  the  fibre,  its  regularity  in  diameter  and 
length  determine  the  value  of  the  cotton  in  the  markets  of 
New  York  and  Liverpool. 

III.  List  of  Varieties  Tested  and  Eesults  Obtained. 

During  the  past  two  seasons  I obtained  from  the  farm  of 
the  Experiment  Station,  a number  of  samples  of  cotton,  rep- 
resenting eighteen  varieties,  two  selected  specimens  from 
Savannah,  Georgia,  of  the  Sea  Island  cotton  and  a sample 
of  the  “Bailey”  fibre  from  North  Carolina.  Careful  studies 
have  been  made  of  these  specimens  under  high  powers  of 
the  microscope,  and  a number  of  interesting  results  were 
obtained.  The  following  are  some  of  the  questions  consid- 
ered by  me  during  these  investigation  : 

1.  How  many  real  varieties  of  cotton  exist  ? 

2.  In  forcing  the  plant  under  high  cultivation  is  the  fibre 
improved,  or  is  simply  the  “weed”  enlarged  to  the  detri- 
ment of  the  staple  ? Is  it  not  often  the  case  that  the  fruit  of 
the  cotton  plant  is  damaged  by  too  rapid  maturing,  just  as 
the  fruit  of  the  peach  is  known  to  be  immature  at  the  centre 
in  some  early  forced  varieties? 

3.  The  effect  produced  on  the  fibre  when  caught  by  frost 
just  as  the  boll  opens  ? 


36 


5 


4.  At  wbat  stage  of  the  growth  and  maturity  of  the  boll 
does  the  fibre  attain  its  full  development? 

The  last  two  questions  will  not  be  considered  in  this  bul- 
letin, because  my  investigations  have  not  been  carried  far 
enough  to  warrant  the  publication  of  conclusions  on  those 
points.  I intend  to  present  them  in  some  future  bulletin. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  varieties  that  were 
subjected  to  the  tests  : 

Gossypium  lierbaceum — 

1.  Peerless — permitted  to  degenerate,  not  fertilized. 

2.  Peerless — permitted  to  degenerate,  fertilized  with 
floats ; blighted. 

3.  Peerless — permitted  to  degenerate,  not  fertilized,  not 
blighted. 

4.  Peerless — permitted  to  degenerate,  fertilized  with 
floats  and  cotton-seed  meal. 

5.  Peerless — permitted  to  degenerate,  fertilized  with 
floats  and  cotton-seed  meal ; blighted. 

6.  “Peerless” — fertilized  with  compost  broad-cast,  1,000 
pounds  to  the  acre,  composed  of  the  proportions,  500  pounds 
cotton-seed  meal,  500  pounds  acid  phosphate,  and  1,000 
pounds  stable  manure. 

7.  “Welborn’s  Pet” — fetilized  like  No.  6. 

8.  “Truitt” — fertilized  like  No.  6. 

9.  “Raineses” — fertilized  like  Np.  6. 

10.  “Cherry’s  cluster” — fertilized  like  No.  6. 

11.  “Okra  leaf  cotton”— fertilized  like  No.  6. 

12.  “Hawkins’  improved.” 

13.  “Allen’s  long  staple.” 

14.  “Jones’  improved.” 

15.  Georgia  ordinary  upland,  obtained  from  W.  W.  Gor- 
don & Co.,  Savannah,  Ga. 

16.  “Peterkin.” 

17.  “Southern  hope.” 

18.  “Zellner.” 

19.  “Barnett’s  short  staple.” 

20.  “King’s  improved  prolific.” 

21.  “Ellsworth.” 

22.  “Bailey,”  (doubtfully  placed  under  lierbaceum.) 

23.  Sample  obtained  from  Mr.  W.  N.  Brandon,  of  Coffee 
Springs,  Alabama  ; name  of  variety  unknown. 

Gossypium  larbadense , or  nigrum  — 

24.  Sea  Island  No.  1,  obtained  from  Mr.  P.  D.  Duffin, 
commission  merchant  of  Savannah,  Georgia. 

25.  Sea  Island  No.  2.  Obtained  from  W.  W.  Gordon  & 
Co.,  commission  merchants  of  Savannah,  Georgia. 

Many  experiments  were  made  on  each  one  of  the  above 

37 


6 


samples  to  determine  the  diameter  and  regularity  of  fibre, 
the  average  length  of  the  strands,  the  character  of  twist  and 
the  internal  structure.  Also  several  strands  were  selected 
at  random  from  the  bolls  and  the  strain  necessary  to  break 
them  carefully  determined  by  fastening  one  end  of  the  fibre 
and  weighting  down  the  other  until  rupture  was  produced. 

Sample  number  1 was  a poor  grade  of  cotton  that  was 
obtained  from  stalks  about  ten  to  twelve  inches  high,  grow- 
ing on  sandy  soil  unfertilized.  Four  tests  of  the  strength 
were  made  with  two  strands  in  each  test  with  the  following 
results  : 1st,  Broke  under  a strain  of  9.498  grammes  ; 2nd, 

19.057  grammes  ; 3rd,  21.404  grammes  ; 4th,  11.635  grammes. 
Average  for  two  strands  15.398  grammes  (1  gramme  is 
equivalent  to  15.43  grains).  Length  of  fibre  1st  test,  22  4 
millimeters  (1  millimeter  is  equivalent  to  0.039  of  an  inch); 
2nd  test,  24  millimeters  ; 3rd  test,  23.2  millimeters  ; 4th  test, 
24.8  millimeters.  Average  length  of  fibre,  23.6  millimeters. 
The  diameter  ranged  from  0.009  millimeters  to  0.016  milli- 
meters. These  results  indicate  a lack  of  uniformity.  When 
the  fibres  were  placed  under  the  microscope  it  was  noticed 
that  some  were  immature,  some  were  only  slightly  twusted, 
while  others,  though  well  twisted,  were  small  and  weak. 

Number  2 was  obtained  from  the  same  field  but  from  a 
plat  that  had  been  fertilized  with  floats.  The  stalk  was 
small  and  badly  blighted,  but  the  fibre  was  about  the  same 
grade  with  number  1.  The  grade  of  both  plants  is  so  low 
in  the  scale,  the  injury  to  the  fibre  may  be  due  largely  to 
immature  growth  in  the  plant  before  the  blight  obtained 
headway.  However,  this  is  difficult  to  determine  with  these 
samples,  as  they  were  obtained  so  late  in  the  season. 

Number  3 was  also  obtained  from  the  same  field  and  the 
same  plat  from  which  No.  1 was  drawn.  The  plant  was  not 
blighted,  but  the  stalk  was  small.  In  the  first  test  upon 
the  strength  of  two  strands  the  fibre  broke  under  a load  of 
27  475  grammes ; 2nd,  33.915  grammes  ; 3rd,  29.000  gram- 
mes ; 4th,  45.176  grammes.  Average  for  two  strands,  33.891 
grammes.  Length  of  fibre  1st  test,  25.6  millimeters ; 2nd 
test,  20  millimeters  ; 3rd  test,  23.2  millimeters  ; 4th  test, 
22.4  millimeters.  Average  length,  22.8  millimeters.  Di- 
ameter of  fibre,  0.016  millimeters.  This  is  an  improvement 

38 


7 

over  the  two  preceding.  The  twist  of  the  fibre  is  an  aver- 
age, but  there  was  a good  deal  of  waste  in  the  boll. 

Number  4 was  obtained  from  the  same  plat  that  No.  2 
came  from,  but  was  not  blighted.  Rupture  : 29.151,  23.652, 
21.061,  26.719  grammes.  Average  for  two  stands,  25.145 
grammes.  Length  of  fibre,  17.6,  21.6,  21.6,  21.6  millimeters; 
average  length,  20.6  millimeters;  diameter,  0.016  millimeters. 
The  twist  was  medium.  The  resistance  to  rupture  was  more 
uniform  than  the  preceding  and  the  staple  was  a better  grade. 

Number  5 was  another  specimen  of  blighted  cotton  from 
the  same  field  in  the  plat  fertilized  with  floats  and  cotton 
seed  meal.  The  fibre  was  quite  imperfect  in  development, 
and  the  twist  was  inferior.  Resistance  to  rupture  : 13.990, 
5.620,  11.237,  13.000  grammes.  Average  resistance,  10.962 
grammes.  Average  length  of  fibre,  20.2  millimeters  ; diame- 
ter, 0.024  millimeters. 

Number  6 represents  the  variety  Peerless.  The  stalk  was 
large,  well  developed  and  loaded  with  fruit.  The  field  in 
which  the  plant  grew  was  fertilized  with  compost,  200 
pounds  cotton  seed  meal  and  200  pounds  acid  phosphate, 
1,000  pounds  to  the  acre.  The  diameter  of  fibre  was  0.016 
to  0.024  millimeters,  the  last  measure  predominating.  The 
twist  was  about  an  average  and  the  length  ranged  from  18 
millimeters  to  20.8  millimeters.  Average  18.5  millimeters. 
The  resistance*  to  rupture  : 23.142,  20.552,  28.044,  11.623 
grammes.  Average  20.840  grammes.  This  is  a good  grade 
of  cotton,  with  even  texture  and  uniform  diameter. 

Number  7,  or  Welborn’s  Pet,  was  fertilized  in  the  same 
manner  that  was  used  with  No.  6.  The  plant  was  large, 
well  fruited  and  apparently  healthy.  Diameter  of  fibre, 
0.016  to  0.024  millimeters.  Length:  21.6,  23.2,  21.2,  22.4 
millimeters.  Average  22.1  millimeters.  Resistance  to 
rupture  : 12.258,  15.850,  15.902,  11.430  grammes  ; average, 
3.860  grammes.  Twist  of  fibre  average.  The  grade  of  this 
cotton  is  below  that  of  the  Peerless,  because  the  fibres  were 
irregular  in  diameter,  yielding  weak  places  in  the  strands. 

Number  8,  or  Truitt,  from  the  same  field  with  the  last 
and  fertilized  in  the  same  manner.  The  plant  was  well 
grown  and  well  fruited.  Diameter  of  fibre,  0.016  to  0.024 
millimeters.  Twist  excellent.  Length,  22.4,  22,  21.4,  21.6; 

39 


8 


average  21.8  millimeters.  Resistance  to  rupture  : 35.437, 
28.472,  36.856,  20.525  grammes;  average,  30.322  grammes- 
The  strength  of  the  fibre  is  high  and  the  grade  of  the  cotton 
excellent. 

Number  9,  Rameses,  fertilized  in  the  same  manner  as  No. 
6.  Plant  was  well  grown  and  heavily  fruited.  Diameter  of 
fibre  0.019  to  0.024  millimeters!  Length:  20.8,  17.6,  21, 
20.8  millimeters  ; average,  20.1  millimeters.  Twist  excel- 
lent. Resistance  to  rupture:  25.566,  28.702,  29.212,  25.558 
grammes  ; average,  26.758  grammes.  The  staple  was  of 
uniform  strength  and  uniform  diameter. 

Number  10,  Cherry’s  Cluster,  same  fertilization.  Plant 
in  good  condition  and  well  fruited.  Diameter  of  fibre,  0.019 
to  0.027  millimeters.  Twist  excellent.  Length:  23.2,  22.4, 

23.2,  20.8  millimeters  ; average,  22.4  millimeters.  Resist- 
ance to  rupture:  35.216,  18.695,  38.690,  25.310  grammes; 
average,  29.477  grammes. 

Number  11,  Okra  or  Forked  Leaf,  same  fertilization. 
Plant  in  good  condition  and  well  fruited.  Diameter  of 
fibre,  0.016  to  0.027  millimeters.  The  last  measuremen, 
predominated.  The  twist  was  poor.  Length:  31.2,  33.6 
28.8,  28  millimeters  ; average,  30.4  millimeters.  Resistance 
to  rupture:  17.933, 18.470,  10.471,  10.088  grammes  ; average, 
14.240  grammes.  The  strength  of  this  variety  is  not  as 
great  as  the  last  by  one-half.  This  was  due#to  the  fact  that 
the  twist  was  poor  and  the  diameter  was  not  the  same 
throughout  the  length  of  the  fibre,  and  the  weak  points 
quickly  yielded  to  the  strain  applied. 

Number  12,  Hawkins  improved,  fertilized  with  cotton  seed 
meal  and  acid  phosphate,  200  pounds  to  the  acre.  Diame- 
ter of  fibre, -0.008  to  0.016  millimeters.  Twist  poor.  Length. 

19.2,  16,  18.4,  16.8  millimeters  ; average,  17.6  millimeters; 
Resistance  to  rupture:  12.446,  2.991,  10.710,  8.333  grammes  : 
average  8.620  grammes.  These  results  indicate  an  inferior 
condition  of  the  cotton.  The  fibres  were  irregular  in  diame- 
ter with  weak  points,  and  a number  of  strands  on  the  seeds 
were  immature  in  development. 

Number  13,  Allen’s  long  staple,  fertilized  in  the  same  way 
that  was  used  with  Hawkins’.  Diameter  of  fibre,  0.016  to 
0.024  grammes.  Twist  inferior.  Length:  26.4,  25.6,  26.4, 

40 


27.2  millimeters  ; ave'rage,  20.4  millimeters.  Resistance  to 
rupture:  17.353,  14.539,  15.510,  23.975  grammes;  average, 
17.845  grammes.  The  fibre  of  this  variety  was  more  ma- 
ture and  even  in  diameter,  although  the  twist  was  inferior, 
hence  it  withstood  the  strain  quite  well.  But  the  grade  can 
be  considerably  improved. 

Number  14,  Jones’  improved,  fertilized  like  Hawkins’. 
Diameter  of  fibre,  r0.010  to  0.024  millimeters.  Twist 
medium.  Length:  22.4,  22.4,23.2,  23.2  millimeters;  average, 

22.8  millimeters.  Resistance  to  rupture:  23.083,  15.323? 
25.448,  20.900  grammes;  average,  23.338  grammes.  The 
grade  of  this  cotton  is  an  improvement  over  the  last. 

Number  15,  Zellner,  fertilized  the  same  way.  Diameter  of 
fibre,  0.010  to  0.020  millimeters.  Twist  good.  Length: 
21.0,  21.0,  23.2,  23.2  ; average,  22.4  millimeters.  Resistance 
to  rupture:  20.130,  28.100,  20.345,  15.014  grammes;  average, 
22.550  grammes.  This  is  also  a good  grade  of  cotton. 

Number  10,  Barnett’s  short  staple,  fertilized  in  the  same 
way.  Diameter  of  fibre,  0.010  to  0.028  millimeters.  Twist 
poor.  Length:  22.8,  24.2,  23.2,  24.8  millimeters;  average, 

24.8  millimeters.  Resistance  to  rupture:  10.900,  10.370? 
12.050,  8.303  grammes;  average,  10.430  grammes.  The  fibre 
was  so  weak  it  was  difficult  to  handle  without  breaking.  The 
strands  were  immature  in  development. 

Number  17,  King’s  improved,  fertilized  in  the  same  way. 
Diameter  of  fibre,  0.012  to  0.010  millemeters.  Twist  good. 
Length:  17.0,  20,  15.0,  20  millimeters;  average,  18.3  milli- 
meters. Resistance  to  rupture:  15.720,  12.990,  10.490? 
18.100  grammes;  average,  15.820  grammes.  Although  the 
average  resistance  is  low,  still  the  strands  were  of  uniform 
strength,  and  with  higher  fertilization,  the  plant  may  be 
made  to  produce  excellent  cotton. 

Number  18,  Ellsworth  fertilized  in  the  same  way.  Diam- 
eter of  fibre,  0 012  to  0.024  millimeters.  Twist  good.  Length, 
21.0,  21.0,  21.2,  1.20  millimeters;  average,  21.1  millimeters. 
Resistance  to  rupture,  20.330,  22.050,  20.085,  20.838  grammes; 
average,  20.970  grammes. 

Number  19,  Georgia  ordinary  upland.  Sent  to  me  by 
W.  W.  Gordon  Co.,  commission  merchants  of  Savannah, 
Ga.  Character  of  fertilizer  not  known.  The  fibre  was  re- 

41 


10 


ceived  in  a ginned  condition  and  the  number  of  seed  to  boll 
and  weight  of  staple  could  not  be  determined.  Diameter 
of  fibrp,  0.012,  to  0.016  millimeters.  Twist  medium.  Length 
of  fibre  could  not  be  accurately  determined,  because  the 
cotton  was  sent  to  me  ginned.  Resistance  to  rupture,  19.038, 
17.597,  21.965,  13.650  grammes;  average,  18.083  grammes. 

Number  20,  Peterkin.  Obtained  from  farm  of  Experiment 
Station.  Character  of  fertilization — 1,000  lbs.  compost  per 
acre,  in  the  drill.  Diameter  of  fibre,  0.008  to  0.016  millime- 
ters. Twist  medium.  Length,  22,  25,2,  23.2,  22.4  millime- 
ters; average,  23.2  millemeter.  Resistance  to  rupture,  20.757, 
14.438,  11.490,  20.649  grammes;  average,  16.834  grammes. 

Number  21,  Southern  hope.  Fertilized  like  Peterkin. 
Diameter  of  fibre,  0.016  to  0.020  millimeters.  Twist  good. 
Length,  27.2,23.2,  23.2,  24  millimeters;  ayerage,  24.4  milli- 
meters. Resistance  to  rupture,  13.363,  21.453,  29.903,  22.928 
grammes;  average,  21.912. 

Number  22,  Bailey.  Obtained  from  the  Bailey  Cotton 
Co.  of  Raleigh,  N.  C.  The  sample  was  ginned,  and  hence, 
lengths  of  strand,  number  of  seed  to  boll  and  weight  of 
fibre  were  not  determined.  Diameter  of  fibre,  0.019  milli- 
meters. Twist  poor.  Resistance  to  rupture,  18.683,  15  413, 
12.066,  18.687  grammes;  average,  16.212. 

Number  23,  sample  obtained  from  Mr.  W.  N.  Brandon  of 
Coffee  Springs,  Alabama.  The  name  of  the  variety  was  not 
furnished  me,  but  the  plants  were  thrifty  and  healthy  and 
averaged  three  feet  in  height;  well  fruited.  The  fertilizer 
used  wa  - 1,200  pounds  to  acre  of  stable  manure,  with  pine 
straw  and  leaves,  and  125  lbs.  of  guano  to  acre  in  the  furrows 
before  bedding  and  75  pounds  to  acre  about  the  last  of  May. 
Diameter  of  fibre,  0.024  millimeter.  Twist  medium.  Length 
of  strands,  21.6,  16.8,  19.2,  20.8  millimeters;  average,  19.6, 
millimeters.  Resistance  to  rupture  ; 14.303,  24.556,  25.173, 
17.500  grammes;  average,  20.383  grammes. 

Number  24.  Sea  Island  No.  1,  obtained  from  P.  D.  Duffin, 
commission  merchant,  Savannah,  Georgia.  Diameter  of 
fibre,  0.016  millimeters.  Twist  average,  with  weak  places. 
Length  averages  37  millimeters,  but  this  is  only  approxi- 
mate, as  the  sample  sent  me  was  ginned.  Resistance  to 
rupture;  16.462,  23.726,  36.968,  9.606  grammes;  average, 
18.602  grammes. 


42 


11 


Number  25.  Sea  Island  No.  2,  obtained  from  W.  W.  Gor- 
don & Co.,  commission  merchants  of  Savannah,  Georgia. 
Mr.  Gordon  States  that  this  sample  is  not  genuine  Sea  Is- 
land, but  that  its  quality  has  been  somewhat  changed  by 
growing  the  plant  in  the  interior  of  Florida.  The  cotton 
was  ginned  and  the  length,  48.  millimeters,  can  only  be  ap- 
proximate. The  fibre  was  slightly  stained  with  adhering 
particles  of  dust.  Diameter;  0.016  to  0.024  millimeters. 
Resistance  to  rupture;  17.447,  12.156, 14.356,  7,506  grammes; 
average,  15.578  grammes. 

It  seems  evident  from  the  foregoing,  that  it  is  not  always 
the  large  plant  that  produces  the  best  condition  of  the 
fibre.  Experiment  seems  to  determine  that  the  most  excel- 
lent condition  of  the  fibre  is  produced  only  on  those  plants 
that  are  healthy  in  all  their  functions,  neither  too  rapid  nor 
slow  in  their  development,  and  that  are  given  all  the  advan- 
tages of  judicious  cultivation  with  the  proper  fertilization 
and  under  the  most  favorable  conditions  of  the  atmosphere. 
In  improving  the  grade  of  cotton,  the  following  must  also 
be  carefully  noted.  The  plant  must  be  forced  to  produce 
fibre,  that  is — 

1.  Long,  and  as  nearly  as  possible,  uniform  in  length. 

2.  Of  uniform  diameter  throughout. 

3.  Flat  and  ribbon-like,  and  well  twisted. 

The  cells  must  not  collapse  until  well  matured,  so  that 
the  collapsing  and  twisting  will  occur  with  equal  intensity 
throughout  the  entire  length  of  the  tube. 

I will  state  as  a proposition  : No  plant  has  a right  to  a 

new  name  unless  it  is  able  to  produce  fibre  closely  ap- 
proaching the  above  conditions.  The  cultivation  of  cotton 
is  chiefly  for  the  staple  it  produces,  and  every  effort  should 
be  made  to  improve  its  quality. 

Now,  in  order  to  secure  the  results  desired,  it  is  necessa- 
ry to  consider  the  following  important  steps: 

1.  The  improvement  of  the  seed. 

2.  The  character  of  the  soil. 

3.  The  best  kind  of  fertilizer. 

4.  The  best  method  of  cultivation. 

5.  The  conditions  of  the  weather  most  favorable. 

1.  The  Improvement  of  the  Seed. 

The  seed  is  the  beginning  of  the  new  plant,  and  contains 

43 


12 


within  itself  all  the  future  possibilties  of  the  full  developed 
plant  it  will  produce.  There  is  an  old  expression  that  what 
the  child  is,  so  will  be  the  man.  This  is  as  true  of  the  veg- 
etable as  of  the  animal  kingdom.  Imperfect  seed  must  pro- 
duce imperfect  plants.  The  intelligent  farmer  has  often 
noticed  in  his  fields  of  cotton,  some  plants  much  larger 
than  others,  containing  a larger  number  of  well-formed 
bolls,  and  with  fibre  whiter,  more  silky,  and  better  in  qual- 
ity than  on  any  other  plant  in  the  field.  If  he  would  select 
from  this  plant  the  bolls  that  are  the  largest,  the  finest  and 
most  perfectly  matured ; and  after  ginning  the  cotton  care- 
fully select  the  seed,  rejecting  all  that  are  blasted  or  imper- 
fectly shaped;  and  then  carefully  protect  them  to  prevent 
fermentation  or  becoming  in  any  manner  damaged  until  the 
next  planting  season,  the  first  important  step  would  be 
taken.  There  is  no  chance  in  this  matter,  if  we  follow 
closely  the  laws  by  which  nature  performs  her  perfect  work. 
The  cotton  seeds  that  have  thus  been  carefully  collected 
from  the  first  plant  must  be  placed  in  the  best  prepared 
soil,  under  the  best  conditions  and  well  cultivated.  No 
cotton  of  an  inferior  grade  must  be  planted  in  the  immedi- 
ate neighborhood.  In  fact,  it  does  not  pay  to  cultivate  in- 
ferior cotton,  and  it  is  best  to  send  all  such  seeds  to  the  oil 
mills.  When  blooms  of  low  grade  cotton  open,  insects  and 
winds  will  soon  transport  the  pollen  from  them  to  the  pis- 
tils of  the  selected  variety  and  the  germs  will  become  de- 
preciated by  such  inferior  fertilization.  There  are  a num- 
ber of  insects  that  visit  the  flowers  of  the  cotton  plant  for 
the  nectar  they  contain;  and  in  the  effort  to  reach  the  base 
of  the  flower  where  the  nectar  is  found,  their  bodies  become 
covered  with  pollen  that  is  transferred  to  the  stigma  where 
they  come  in  contact  with  pistils  of  other  flowers.  It  is 
readily  seen,  therefore,  that  if  plants  of  an  inferior  grade 
are  growing  and  blooming  in  the  immediate  neighborhood 
of  the  selected  varieties,  the  insects  will  soon  convey  the 
pollen  from  the  inferior  to  the  superior  plant,  and  the  seed 
that  will  be  produced  will  contain  a germ  with  qualities  of 
the  inferior  plant.  This  work  of  the  insects  might  explain 
to  some  extent  why  it  is  that  improved  seeds  in  a few  years 
degenerate  so  badly.  If  the  selection  of  the  seed  is  re- 

44 


13 


peated  from  year  to  year,  and  no  inferior  cotton  planted 
near  enongh  to  vitiate  with  its  pollen  by  means  of  insects 
or  wind,  and  if  seasons  are  favorable,  there  seems  to  be  no 
reason  why  practically  perfect  plants  may  not  be  produced. 

2.  The  Character  of  the  Soil. 

It  goes  without  saying  that  a soil  in  the  first  place  must 
contain  those  mineral  elements  of  plant  food  in  a most 
available  form  that  the  cotton  necessarily  requires  for  its 
full  development  and  maturity.  This  information  is  ob- 
tained by  a chemical  analysis  of  the  plant  with  all  its  pro- 
ducts and  a careful  examination  of  the  soil  by  means  of 
tests  made  with  the  growing  plant  and  fertilizers  now  so 
well  understood  by  most  intelligent  farmers. 

Besides  the  ingredients  comprising  the  soil  it  should  have 
certain  physical  properties,  without  which  it  would  be 
wholly  inadequate  for  the  purposes  of  producing  well  ma- 
tured plants.  It  should  have  the  power  to  absorb  and  re- 
tain moisture,  so  that  in  times  of  drought,  in  August  and 
September,  when  seed  and  fibre  are  to  be  formed,  and  when 
diminished  leaf  activity  is  desirable,  the  soil  should  have 
sufficient  moisture  in  composition  to  enable  the  roots  to 
draw  it  up  into  the  plant  at  a time  when  most  needed.  The 
soil  must  be  so  friable  that  when  rains  fall  the  moisture  will 
sink  and  not  stagnate  about  the  roots. 

For  the  best  kind  of  fertilizer,  and  the  best  method  of 
cultivation,  I will  refer  the  reader  to  previous  bulletins  is- 
sued by  the  experiment  station. 

5.  The  Condition  of  the  Weather. 

This  factor  we  cannot  control,  but  we  can  at  least  make 
the  most  of  what  the  Creator  has  given  us.  This  southern 
country  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  cultivation  of  cotton 
because  of  its  sunny  climate.  This  plant  requires  a warm 
atmosphere  for  its  full  development,  and  hence  it  produces 
fibre  in  diminished  quantity  and  perfection  in  more  north- 
ern than  southern  latitudes.  The  high  heat  of  a midday 
summer’s  sun  seems  not  to  injure  cotton  as  it  does  corn  and 
other  like  plants.  Cotton  is  decidedly  a sun  plant. 

The  proper  supply  of  moisture  is  of  equal  importance 
with  temperature.  The  plant  will  stand  great  heat,  pro- 
vided it  is  not  growing  in  a very  dry  atmosphere,  and  is  in 

45 


14 


a soil  that  can  retain  moisture.  According  to  Mallet,  mois- 
ture may  be  supplied  to  the  cotton  plant  in  several  ways  : 

1.  “The  atmosphere  may  contain  a greater  or  less 
amount  of  water  in  the  state  of  vapor  up  to  the  so-called 
point  of  saturation. 

2.  The  atmosphere  may  be  supersaturated,  or  in  other 
words,  rain  may  occur. 

3.  The  soil  may  contain  greater  or  less  amount  of  water 
intimately  united  with  it,  whether  by  adhesion  or  in  chemi- 
cal combination,  such  water  as  is  rapidly  absorbed  from  the 
air  by  dried  soil  and  can  only  be  expelled  by  high  tempera- 
ture. This  water  does  not  render  the  soil  moist  to  the  touch. 

4.  The  soil  may  be  supersaturated  and  rendered  moist  or 
wet.  The  larger  amount  of  water  that  is  taken  by  the  cotton 
plant  in  the  first  (atmospheric  vapor)  and  third  ways  (soil 
water  absorbed  from  the  air  under  ordinary  conditions),  and 
the  smaller  amount  that  it  receives  in  the  second  (rain)  and 
fourth  ways  (saturated  soil)  the  more  favorable  will  be  the 
result.  Iu  water  soaked  soil  cotton  will  not  thrive.  It 
scalds  and  looks  sickly.  In  the  early  stages  of  its  growth 
the  plant  receives  with  advantage  a moderate  supply  of 
moisture  in  the  form  of  rain  (water  in  the  second  condition), 
but  even  then  heavy  rains  are  injurious,  and  later  in  the  sea- 
son they  are  absolutely  destructive  ; the  bolls  do  not  open  but 
fall  or  rot  qu  the  branches  ; a surface  growth  of  weeds  and 
grass  accumulates  so  rapidly  as  to  choke  the  crop ; the  boll 
worm  and  other  insects  appear  in  great  numbers,  and  the 
crop  is  considerably  cut  off.  Dry  years  are  emphatically 
those  of  the  largest  and  best  crops.” 

In  a dry  season,  when  the  supply  of  moisture  has  been 
moderate,  and  the  plant  is  young  and  vigorous,  the  tap  root 
penetrates  to  great  depth  where  the  supply  of  soil  water  is 
not  so  much  under  the  control  of  periodical  or  ordinary  at- 
mospheric changes.  The  plant  is,  therefore,  enabled  to 
withstand  a long  drought;  and  if  the  moisture  from  the  at- 
mosphere has  been  given  in  small  quantities  all  along  its 
growth,  the  fibre  becomes  long,  even  and  soft,  the  bolls 
open  wide  and  the  fleecy  staple  hangs  in  long,  silken  folds 
from  them.  Much  rain  and  rapid  growth  of  grass  in  May 
and  June  prevent  the  full  development  of  the  tap  root  and 
encourage  a great  multiplication  of  surface  roots  ; and  as  soon 
as  the  hot,  dry  atmosphere  of  July  and  August  sweep  across 
the  fields  the  plants  wither  and  shed  because  there  is  little  tap 
root  to  bring  up  moisture  from  bel  )w  the  surface  of  the  soil. 

46 


Table  Showing  Results  of  Microscopical  Examination  of  Cotton  Fibre. 


15 


* 1 1° q.  QUO  I c^^r^rcCJUTr<Xico^rtxjao*si'<  • io  © 

oj  oaqg  jo  )U90  jaj  I : : : : :«« 

-f- 

Uoqauooj  I : : : : ;=o<otfo).N®^^oMo,oo  :«-! 

P99s  jo  -ju9o  J9fi  I : : : : :S.raSS®S8®SSt5S®S  :8® 

*-b9uiutb.iS  ui 
p9SS9idx9  *noq  9ao 
ut  9Jqq  jo  jqSi9M 

1 751 
0.890 

2 419 

1 029 
2.190 
1.857 
1.060 

2 035 
2.740 
1.837 
1 737 
1 530 

1 561 

2 499 
2 239 

+- 

*S9UIUIRj3  ut 
pessgadxe  ‘noq  ouo 
ui  p99S  jo  jq3i9AV 

3 217 
1.312 
5 029 
2.417 
3 917 

2 852 
1.670 

3 722 

4 570 

5 015 
3.115 
2 490 

*2  626 

3.826 
4 975 

-f- 

.noq  J9d 

sp99s  jo  J9qran^j 

M'^CC'fMHHLOQCOl^iO'C  mCO 

CO  CO  CO  CO  Tf  CO  CO  <N  Tt«  CO  •T}’T}< 

Character  of 
Twist. 

Poor 

Poor  

Average 

Medium 

Poor 

Average 

Average 

Excellent 

Excellent  .... 

Excellent 

Poor 

Poor 

Inferior 

Medium 

Good 

Poor 

Good 

Good 

Medium 

Medium 

Good.  

Medium 

Averaere 

Poor  to  averg’el 

^'SJ9J9UIIJJim 

ax  p9ss9idx9  ojqij 
jb  qjSu9[  9Sua9A v 

23.6  m.m 
23  4 “ 
22.8  “ 

20  6 “ 
[20.2  “ 

18  5 “ 

22  1 “ 

21  8 “ 

20  1 “ 

22  4 “ 

30.4  “ 

17  6 “ 

26.4  “ 
22.8  “ 

22.4  “ 

23  4 “ 

18  3 “ 

21  1 “ 

23  2 “ 

24  4 “ 

„ 9 61 

Four  tests  to 
determine  the 
length  of  fibre 
expressed  in 
millimeters.  * 

24.8 
21.2 
22.4 
216 

18*0 

22.4 

21.6 

20.8 
20.8 
28 
16.8 

27.2 

23.2 
23.2 
24  8 
20.0 
20.0 

i 

22.4 

24.0 

X 

20.8 

X* 

X 

23.2 

22.4 

23.2 
21.6 

18^4 

21.2 

21.4 
21 
23.2 
28.8 

18.4 

26.4 
23.2 

23.2 

23.2 
15.6 

21.2 
X 

23.2 

23.2 

X 

19.2 

X 

X 

q © q CO  qOCO^OOcO'rr  q q © q <M  OJ  00 

^HOri  ’ 00  CO  ^ CO  CD  to  H d rH*  4-flO  CO  +4*0  ♦ ♦ 4-4- 

04  04  <N  04  r—  04  04  04  CO  »-H  04  04  04  04  04  04  0404  r-< 

tj<  rf  q q *occot^cooio4  04^^  q oc  q q o 04  q 

04  04  iQ  •p,Hoi6c6HO«3o4HC4NH  +-rOi  4— f r—5  *-f+-+ 

04  04  04  r-4  • 04  04  04  04  04  CO  * — '04040404*— <04  04  Oi  04  | 

*'8J9J9UI 
-inim  ui  p9ss9jd 
-X9  9jqp  jo  qjpiM 

rH  04  r—i  t-h  04  04  04  04  04  04  04  —•  04  04  04  04  »—«  Ol  04  rH  04  r- 

oooqoooooooooooooooooooc 

oooooooooooooooooooooooc 

O-  

woo  • • © <r>  to  o o co oo  to  to  to  to  ox  or co  oo  to  ■ • 

O®  • • HrlHHHHOHHHHHrtrtOH  • • 

oo  • • ■ © © © © © © o © © © © © © o © © • • 

oo  • • © o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ■ 

< 04 
> © 
: C 

CO 

q 

© 

•eanjdnj 

oj  ureajs  9Sbj9ay 

15.398 

33.891 

25.145 

10.962 

20.840 

13  860 
30.322 
26.758 
29.477 

14  240 
8.620 

17  845 
23.338 
22.556 
:0  436 
115  826 
20.976 
18.083 
16  834 
21.912 
16.212 
20.383 
18.602 
15.578 

Four  tests  on  strain 
required  to  rupture 
two  strands,  expressed 
in  grammes.* 

• 1 
11.635! 
$ 

45.176 

26.719 

13.000 

11.623 

11.430 

20.525 

25.558 

25.310 

10.088 

8.333 

23.975 

20.900 

15.644 

8.363 

18.100 

20.838 

13.650 

20.649 

22.928 

18.687 

17.500 

17.251 

18.352 

21.404 

$ 

29.000 

21.061 

11.237 

28.044 

15.902 
36.856 
29.212 
38.690 
10.471 
10.710 
15.516 
25.448 
26.345 
12.050 

16.490 
20  685 
21.965 

11.490 

29.903 

g 

D *“H  q co 
'i  »C  CC 

HC4HH 

O CO  CO  CO 
-I  lO  C4  iO  i 
& q q rH 
6 -t#  co  oi 

- 04  ?J  r- 

!C  CC  C4  Is* 
)COCTf 

q co  rr  rji 
C ccV 

icc^oc^oc^c^ioor-icicooocoor^coco: 
n to  C4  io  ic  n o cra^  o co  C4  o o jo  o co  uo  r 

q ,^q  q q q cc  q q q q co  t-h  co  q © io  tj<  ^ " 

oS  CO*  CO  »o  © tO  00  00  00  00  04  -rf  ui  00  O <N  ©4  t>*  t*  h L 

-H  CO  04  (NHC4C4HH  H r-  C4  H H (N  H H C4  r 

9.498 

$ 

27.475 

29.151 

13.990 

23,142 

12.258 

35.437 

25.566 

35.216 

17.933 

12.446 

17.353 

23.083 

20.130 

10.960 

15.720 

20.330 

19.038 

20.757 

13.363 

How  Fertilized. 

Not  fertilized 

Floats 

Not  fertilized 

Floats  and  C.  S.  M. 
Floats  and  C.  S.  M. 
} 200  lbs.  cotton  seed 
meal  and  200  lbs. 
1 acid  phosphate, 
[ applied  broad- 
! cast  1,000  pounds 
J per  acre 

j 200  lbs.  cotton  seed 
| meal,  200  pounds 
}-  acid  phosphate, 
applied  200  lbs. 
| per  acre 

Not  known 

) 1,000  lbs.  compost 

\ per  acre 

Not  known 

Name  of  Variety. 

Permit- 
ted to  de- 
generate 

red 

le 

taple 

Prolific.. 

Upland. 

Bailey 

Sample  from  Coffee  Sp’gsAla 

To!  XT r\  1 

■5  ei 

5 O 
3-0 

3 5 

0 03 

£ si 
D © 
2 CO 

Peerless,.  — ’ 

“ blighted 

“ blighted 

Peerless 

Welborn’s  Pet 

Truitt  

Rameses 

Cherry’s  Cluster.. 

Okra  Leaf  

Hawkins’  Improx 
Allen’s  Long  Stap 
Jones’  Improved. 

Zellner 

Barnett’s  Short  S 
King’s  Improved 

Ellsworth 

Georgia  Ordinary 

Peterkin 

Southern  Hope. . . 

o 

o 


o 

.S' 


$ 

Qj 

a 

e 


CO 

o 

a 

§ 

o 

* 


received  was  ginned.  § Differs  but  little  from  above. 


16 


From  the  foregoing  it  may  be  concluded  that : 

The  strongest  cotton  fibre  was  produced  by  Truitt. 

The  largest  fibre  was  produced  by  Barnett. 

The  smallest  fibre  was  produced  by  No.  1,  Hawkin’s  Im- 
proved and  Peterkin. 

The  longest  fibre  was  produced  by  Okra. Leaf. 

The  shortest  fibre  was  produced  by  No.  2. 

The  best  twisted  fibres  were  produced  by  Truitt,  Raineses, 
and  Cherry’s  Cluster. 

The  largest  percentage  of  fibre  per  boll  was  produced  by 
Welborn’s  Pet,  Okra  Leaf,  Peterkin,  Hawkin’s  Improved, 
King’s  Improved,  and  in  the  order  named. 

The  largest  percentage  of  seed  per  boll  was  produced  by 
Zellner,  Rameses,  Southern  Hope,  Truitt,  and  in  order  named. 

The  best  grade  of  cotton,  taking  all  things  into  considera- 
tion, is  Cherry’s  Cluster.  The  second  best  grade  is  Truitt. 

Description  of  Plates. 

The  illustrations  representing  the  longitudinal  views  of  the 
cotton  are  given  in  order  to  show  the  twist  of  the  fibre)  and 
to  indicate  the  relative  sizes  of  the  different  strands.  The 
measurements  shown  in  the  cuts  are  photographs  made  with 
Zeiss’  ocular  micrometer.  These  photographs  were  made 
with  Bausch  & Lomb’s  professional  photo-micro  camera, 
fitted  with  Zeiss’  objective  (0.30  aperture  and  16  m.  m.  focus) 
and  compensated  ocular  6,  with  micrometer.  For  the  cor- 
rect diameters  of  the  fibres  see  the  table  accompanying 
this  bulletin. 

The  cross  sections  shown  in  the  illustration  on  Plate  II, 
were  magnified  with  Zeiss’  microscope  containing  objective 
16,  and  ocular  6.  They  were  drawn  by  the  aid  of  Zeiss’ 
camera  lucida  (after  Abbe).  These  sections  are  given  to 
show  what  is  known  to  be  a well  developed  fibre,  and  one 
that  is  imperfectly  formed.  The  well  developed  strand  is 
shown  by  figure  4 (okra),  and  fig.  3 (chery’s  cluster),  and 
imperfect  fibres  are  noticed  in  figures  1 on  the  right,  and 
also  in  the  centre  of  the  illustration.  Figure  1 at  the 
top  of  the  cut  is  also  quite  immature. 

The  variety  Truitt,  on  Plate  I,  is  decidedly  the  best  cotton, 
because  the  strands  are  not  only  of  an  uniform  size,  but 
they  are  also  remarkably  well  twisted.  Allen’s  Long  Staple, 
on  Plate  II,  is  not  so  satisfactory.  The  twist  is  not  as 
good,  and  the  strands  are  irregular  in  size — some  being 
quite  small  and  weak.  The  two  cuts  representing  Sea 
Island  varieties  show  inferior  grades  of  cotton,  weak  and  a 
decided  lack  of  proper  twist. 

Each  division  on  the  scales  represented  in  the  cuts  is 
equivalent  to  about  1-1600  of  an  inch. 

48 


COMMON  VARIETY— UNFERTILIZED. 


OKRA— OR  FORK-LEAFED. 


COMMON  VARIETY— BLIGHTED. 


TRUITT. 


» 

o - 

* ' f/a 

* ,<*V 

r* 


CROSS-SECTIONS  OF  COTTON-FIBRE. 
Fig.  1.  Common  Variety. 

“ 2.  •*  Rameses.” 

“ 3.  Cherry’s  Cluster. 

“ 4.  Forked-Leaf  or  Okra. 

“ 5.  Peerless. 


SEA  ISLAND— OR  FLORIDA  No.  1. 


SEA  ISLAND— No.  2. 


BRANDON. 


ALLEN’S  LONG  STAPLE. 


V 


